Pressure bulb and puncturing means



R. s. KNAPP PRESSURE BULB AND PUNCTURING MEANS Filed July 16, 1949 4 r 5 n%/ W WMJ I, a WW Z w i a l W 3 5 y .y w W xzfiw 6 W F a i (1 M L r 6. W g b y 6 g Q J 3 M 1 7 P 3 a. ,f w B M a A 0 Q g m H a g; KKK

Nov. 16, 1954 Patented Nov. 16, 1954 PRESSURE BULB AND PUNCTURING MEANS Robert S. Knapp, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Knapp- Monarch Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Application July 16, 1949, Serial No. 105,103

3 Claims. (Cl. 222) This invention relates to a pressure bulb, such as one for containing compressed CO2, the bulb having a novel type of puncturable diaphragm and a puncturing means being provided therefor which eliminates the usual piercing and cutting of minute particles of metal from the diaphragm as in standard pressure bulb piercing practice and instead effects a puncturing action on the diaphragm which fractures the diaphragm without cutting ofi or breaking otf particles of metal that may later clog passageways of a siphon or dispenser.

One object of the invention is to provide a special type of diaphragm which has a countersunk or concave portion of thinned metal adapted to receive a puncturing stem which has a rounded end, the stem upon coacting with the diaphragm effecting rupture thereof instead of cutting the diaphragm as usual with piercing pins for pressure bulbs.

Another object is to provide a filter in the pressure bulb against the diaphragm which serves to receive the jagged edges of the diaphragm after it is punctured and thus tends to hold them against possible break ofi and clogging of the puncturing stem or other passageways.

Still another object is to provide a puncturing stem which is constructed to prevent actual piercing or cutting of the diaphragm but instead effects a pressure engagement which ruptures the diaphragm, thereby eliminating the problem of clogged bulbs and clogged delivery tubes in dispensers and the like.

A further object is to provide a diaphragm and a puncturing stem so designed in relation to each other that puncturing without piercing or cutting the diaphragm is accomplished when the bulb holder is screwed on to a dispenser or the like thereby forcing the bulb toward the puncturing stem.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my pressure bulb and puncturing means, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a fitting and a bulb holder showing my improved bulb and puncturing stem in elevation, the parts being in the position assumed when the bulb holder is first caused to coact with the fitting.

Figure 2 is a similar sectional view showing the bulb holder screwed down and the bulb punctured.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the discharge end of the bulb, the puncturing stem and the adjacent portion of the fitting in which the stem is mounted showing the bulb engaged with a sealing gasket and ready for the puncturing action.

Figure 4 is a similar sectional view showing the bulb during the course of being punctured and the relative positions of the parts.

Figure 5 is a similar sectional view showing a further advanced stage of the puncturing operation in which puncturing has been completed, the end of the stem being omitted to show the punctured diaphragm.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the omitted part of the stem to illustrate its coaction with the diaphragm and a filter in the can of the bulb; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 7--7 of Figure 6 and shows an inside elevation of the sealing cap of the bulb and the lines of fracture in the diaphragm thereof.

On the accompanying drawing I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate a fitting such as found on siphon bottles and other dispensers, the fitting being threaded at 12 for coaction with the threads 14 of a bulb holder 16. A pressure bulb 18 is adapted to be held in the holder 16 and to be sealed thereby against gzsealing washer 20 and punctured by a puncturing stem The fitting 10 usually has a bore 24 directly communicating with the dispenser or communicating therewith through a capillary tube 26 in some forms of dispensers. In other instances, the bulb 18 may contain a liquid to be dispensed in addition to gas under pressure for dispensing it in which case the puncturing stem 22 may be directly connected with a capillary tube to serve iii a discharge nozzle or with a control valve or the With reference to the construction of the bulb 18, this may be of the usual type having a shoulder 28 as shown in Figure 3 against which a hat-shaped closure or sealing cap 30 of metal is positioned after which a gasket 32 is inserted and the end of the bulb spun down as at 34 to retain the gasket and cap in position and at the same time seal in the contents of the bulb. Heretofore it has been the usual practice to have the outer end of the cap 30 flat and thinned down so as to be pierced by a sharpened piercing pin forpermitting escape of the contents of the bulb 18 into a dispenser. Instead of such construction, I provide a concave or countersunk diaphragm 36 which is preferably progressively thinned down from its edge toward its center. The diaphragm being of this shape provides a socket to receive the puncturing stem 22.

The stem 22 has a reduced portion 38 which is rounded on its outer end or at least the outer corner around the stem is rounded as indicated at 40. Also, the outer end from a line 42 is finished very smoothly and/or polished. The puncturing stem 22 and its reduced portion 38 are provided with a suitable bore 44 through which the gas may flow to the capillary tube 26.

Progressive positions of the parts are shown in Figures 3 to 6 between intitial engagement of the bulb holder 16 with the fitting It) as in Figure 1 and the final punctured position of Figure 2 which corresponds to Figures 5 and 6. After the position of Figure 1, the outer end of the cap 30 contacts the sealing washer 20 as illustrated in Figure 3 and further screwing down of the bulb holder 16 results in the rounded edge 40 of the puncturing stem 22 engaging in the countersunk or concave diaphragm 36 and distorting it as in Figure 4. Upon further movement, this distortion finally results in fracture of the diaphragm after which the end of the puncturing stem spreads the opening thus formed as shown in Figure 5, the end of the puncturing pin being broken away in order to better illustrate the fracture of the diaphragm.

Within the cap 30 I preferably provide filtering means such as a disc of felt 46. This felt serves a dual purpose in that in addition to filtering the gas and/or liquid discharged from the bulb 18, it is engaged and spread by the diaphragm 36 as it is punctured and spread by the puncturing stem and the felt tends to retain any particles that may inadvertently be loosened from the metal although my arrangement of puncturing the diaphragm with a smooth rounded stem minimizes the possibility of such particles being cut or torn loose as in the case of a piercing pin. The diaphragm instead of having been pierced is punctured after fracture along lines such as indicated at 48 in Figures 5 and 7, Figure 7 illustrating the fingers resulting from fracture returned to their original position in order to illustrate the fracture lines.

In the final position of the parts as in Figures 5 and 6, the puncturing stem has passed completely through the diaphragm and spread it to provide a clear passageway for the gas and/ or liquid from the bulb. The stem is still outward of the filter disc 46 however, and accordingly the disc serves its filtering purpose in addition to having performed the function of tending to hold any loose particles of metal between itself and the puncturing stem so as to prevent them from clogging the puncturing stem or capillary tube passageways.

The combination of the filter in the cap and the special puncturing stem design provide for puncturing with a minimum of possibility of cutting away any particles of metal from the diaphragm. This is very important in dispensers of the kind disclosed since it is desirable to have small passageways to prevent too violent a discharge of the gas and/or liquid under pressure. The filter disc located immediately behind the diaphragm, the diaphragm itself, and the puncturing stern designed as disclosed and cooperating with each other in the manner set forth serve in conjunction with each other to eliminate the problem of clogged bulbs and dispensers. This is very important in dispensers so as to make them as foolproof as possible and to eliminate the undesirable necessity of having to clean out very small passageways which sometimes become clogged so badly that it is next to impossible to properly clean them out. My substitution of tearing, fracturing, or rupturing actionfor piercing, shearing or cutting action as in usual piercing pin operation likewise contributes to accomplishing the objects set forth in this specification.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my pressure bulb and puncturing means without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

' I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a pressure bulb containing fluid under high pressure and having a diaphragm with a puncturable socket portion, a filter disposed within the bulb in registry with the socket portion of the diaphragm, a puncturing stem for the bulb having a smooth noncutting end' adapted to enter the socket portion of the diaphragm in non-cutting fracturing action, and means to force the stem into the socket portion of the diaphragm to fracture the same.

2. In combination, a pressure bulb containing fluid under high pressure and having a metal diaphragm with a puncturable socket portion accessible from outside the bulb, a filter disposed within the bulb in registry with the socket portion of the diaphragm, a puncturing stem for the bulb positioned outside the bulb and diaphragm adapted to enter the socket portion of the diaphragm to press the same towards the inside of the bulb, and means to force the stem into the socket portion of the diaphragm to fracture the same.

3. In combination, a pressure bulb having a closure cap of hat-shaped conformation with its opening facing inwardly, said closure cap being provided with a thin metal diaphragm of countersunk shape, a pad of filter material disposed in the opening of the cap, fluid under high pressure in said bulb, a puncturing stem for the bulb positioned outside the bulb and diaphragm and having a smooth non-cutting end adapted to. enter the countersunk portion of the diaphragm in non-cutting fracturing action, and means to force the stem into the countersunk portion of the diaphragm to fracture the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 652,413 Wallingford et al June 26, 1900 744,025 Bell Nov. 17, 1903 1,725,775 Badger Aug. 27, 1929 1,913,807 Jones June 13, 1933 2,003,562 Stuart June 4, 1935, 2,035,004 Van Ness Mar. 24, 1936, 2,205,938 Ward June 25, 1940 2,336,708 Ward Dec. 14, 1943, 2,428,425 Levitt Oct. 7, 1947 

